Wednesday, December 28, 2011

I've been absent from the food blog world for the past couple of weeks (Did you miss me? Please say yes!) and the reason is twofold: I took a much-needed hiatus from technology when I went to New Orleans, and then, shortly after I got back, I got full-on walloped by an evil, nasty head cold.

Enter this soup. I needed something warm, healing, and spicy, and so I used a mulligatawny recipe from my favorite new cookbook, Rice & Curry: Sri Lankan Home Cooking, as a base, and tweaked it just enough so that it reminded me of a South Asian version of chicken and rice soup.

I had another purpose in choosing a mulligatawny soup, and that was because I needed the appropriate vessel for using some canned tomatoes. You see, some time ago I received a gift pack of canned Red Pack tomatoes - whole, diced, crushed, and pureed - with the intention of either writing a review, doing a giveaway, or using them in a recipe. And no, you didn't miss that post because I have been shockingly behind and remiss in my blogging. It's absurd, really, because I used canned tomatoes in dishes all the time, especially at this time of year when fresh tomatoes aren't in season. And now I suppose I will never win the Red Pack contest, in which 7 bloggers will be chosen to go to Indianapolis, al expenses paid, for the Red Pack Taste of the Superbowl party. Those of you who know my feelings on football can stop laughing right now: This isn't about team sports, it's about food.

And so this soup killed two birds with one stone, as it not only contained the magical healing properties of chile peppers, chicken, and rice, it also had a whole can of those Red Pack diced tomatoes. Success! As an extra bonus, this made enough for two dinners and two lunches for two people - a pretty good feat when you're feeling like something that's been peeled off the bottom of a shoe.

Here's what to do: In a stockpot, saute one chopped onion, 3 hot green chiles, 3 tablespoons raw curry powder (click here for the recipe), and one heaping teaspoon of dried red chiles in oil. Add 2 whole, skin-on bone-in chicken breasts, 6 sliced cloves of garlic, a thumb of chopped ginger, 10 (or more) whole black peppercorns, and a teaspoon of turmeric, and toss to coat. Add enough water to cover by about an inch, one 14 -ounce can of diced Red Pack tomatoes, and a couple of diced carrots. Bring to a boil and then gently simmer until reduced by half. Remove the chicken and once cool, take off the skin and shred the meat. Add the meat back to the pot, along with a cup of coconut milk, salt to taste, and more chile pepper if desired. Meanwhile, cook one cup dry Basmati rice and add the cooked rice to the pot. Add more liquid if necessary, as well as salt and pepper. In a skillet, fry another onion along with a tablespoon of raw curry powder. Add this to the soup pot and serve with a slice of lime and slivered green onion.

If this doesn't cure what ails you, you need to go see your doctor asap.

By the way, if you have a minute please go check out Nancy of Spicie Foodie's Best Recipes of 2011 round up. I went against type and submitted something sweet.

You know, I hadn't done a movie in a few years and wouldn't you know it... when I did I got a cold the first day of shooting... the lead actress had it! It made 14 hour days absolute hell. I craved hot sauce at night and shook it all over everything. I really really think it works.

Merry Christmas to you & papa Trix. I bet you had a great time back then. Sorry for my late visit. Lots of catching up needed to be done. Hey, congrats on your blog post featuring on Food Network UK. You must be so excited about it. Kudos dear friend. And too not forgetting to wish you a very Happy 2012. May all the good things coming your way, dear.God blessed.Beset wishesKristy

I had been wondering about you! First congratulations on the Food network pick, it is a great feeling, and hope you are feeling totally recovered from your cold with this delicious and exotic soup !Best wishes for the New year!

Now that I am back and ending my bad cold, yes missed you. I could use that amazing soup now, the best I could do was dehydrated chicken noodle these last days. I want to wish you a wonderful New Year for 2012 filled with health, loved ones and success in your endeavors.

Yes, I missed you, but you picked the right time to "disappear" - we just moved two weeks ago and I had been buried in boxes forever! Just like you, I have a ton of blogs to read and I am looking forward to it!This soup brings back memories from my first fine dining restaurant job here in the US. I have to admit that I have not had this soup ever since, even though I really liked it. So, thanks for the inspiration - I just happen to have everything at hand, including the diced tomatoes (not the same brand, but it'll do:)I hope you are much better and ready to tackle the wonderful new year ahead!

Yes, we all missed you terribly! Now where the heck have I been that I'm just reading this post? Surely this soup can cure any ailments. My mouth won't stop watering. Thanks for sharing and good luck on the contest?? Football, the American kind or international kind? I kid of course :)